Sunshower

Chapter 11: Misread

She heard him as he met the guys in the hall.

"What are you coming out of there for?" Jin asked Hoseok.

"We were just talking." He looked around and then looked at Jungkook. "Where's your dad? I thought he said he'd see us this morning." Jungkook shrugged his shoulders.

"He said he had to go back. Something important came up at---." Their voices trailed off as they walked further away from Cassia's room. She smiled to herself as she thought of Hoseok bent over kissing her forehead. Her eyes began to get heavier and her heart began to fall into a regular rhythm.

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When Cassia woke up it was dark outside her window. She looked at her alarm, panic stricken. How could she have slept all day!? She jumped out of the bed and grabbed her bag, trying to pack the last minute things she had left. She had to leave before the guys got back. She was afraid she wouldn't have the strength to leave once Hoseok walked through that door again.

She finished gathering her things and threw on her jacket. She tossed her bag over her shoulder and ran toward the door. Just as her hand touched the doorknob, she heard the front door of the hostel open and the hall fill with voices. She knew it was the guys coming home because she could pick Hoseok's voice out clearly. "What in the hell has gotten into you, Cassia!?" she scolded herself. She heard Mrs. Stein greet the guys and tell them supper was about ready. She went back and sat on the edge of her bed, biting her fingernails, wondering what in the world she was going to do now. She knew if she saw Hoseok again she wouldn't leave - again. She had already let him talk her into staying longer than she wanted to. And if he tried to kiss her again.... then what? She didn't know if she could handle it all.

She was startled out of her thoughts by a knock on her door. She held her breath hoping it would go away. It did not. She sighed, resigning to the fact that she would in fact see Hoseok again. She got up and answered the door - and there he was... a big grin plastered across his face. She couldn't help but smile at him.

"Good morning - oh. I mean good evening, Cass." He winked at her and she felt her heart flip again.

"You intended for this to happen, didn't you?" Cassia asked him. Her words were almost playful, but still serious in some respect. She backed away from the door and allowed him to come in her room.

"What do you mean?" he asked. She looked at him, trying to decide if he was joking around with her.

"The kiss on the forehead - I know what you were doing. I really wanted to leave before you got back." She was serious now and he looked at her with concern.

"I'm sorry, Cass. I guess I was being selfish." He apologized sincerely. "Was it really important for you to leave before you saw me again, though." He stood against the wall across from where she sat on the bed.

"Yes. I really needed to leave before you got home." Her reply was almost a whisper and he walked a couple of steps closer so he could hear her better. "I really can't...." her voice trailed off as she saw him walking toward her. She made the mistake of looking up at him. Her eyes met his and her heart flipped over in her chest. She ducked her head back down and shook the thoughts out of her head.

"Do I need to go?" he asked her. She nodded her head and then almost immediately started shaking her head. Then she covered her face with her hands, embarrassed at her answer. "I don't want to make you uncomfortable, Cass." He pulled her hands from her face and looked down so he could see her.

"That's not it. You make me too comfortable. You make me want to stay. And I can't..."

"SUPPER IS READY!" Mrs. Stein called from the kitchen.